The Social Security Act prescribes criminal penalties for violation of its
provisions concerning fraud, disclosure of certain information, and
representation. Not only do these provisions protect the public and the
integrity of the claims process, but Federal law generally prohibits acts
involving false claims against the government and false or fraudulent
statements made in matters before a government agency.

A party may be subject to criminal prosecution even when the attempted
fraud is unsuccessful. The penalty upon conviction for violation of the
criminal provisions of the Social Security Act or Title 18 of the United
States Code may be a fine, imprisonment, or both.

The following actions are subject to criminal prosecution for fraud:

Furnishing false information of identity in connection with the
establishment and maintenance of Social Security Administration (SSA)
records, or with the intent to gain information as to the date of birth,
employment, wages, or benefits of any person;

Forging or falsifying SSA documents;

Conspiring to obtain or allow a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim;

Using a Social Security number obtained on the basis of false information
or falsely using the Social Security number of another person, for the
purpose of obtaining or increasing a payment under Social Security or any
other federally funded program, or for any other purpose;

Altering, buying, selling, or counterfeiting a Social Security card;

Disclosing, using, or compelling the disclosure of the Social Security
number of any person for unauthorized purposes;

Making or causing to be made a false statement or representation of a
material fact for use in determining rights to Social Security benefits,
Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income;

Making or causing to be made any false statement or representation of a
material fact in any application for any payment or for a disability
determination under the Social Security Act;

Making or causing to be made any false statement or representation as to
whether wages were paid or received, the amount of such wages, the period
during which wages were paid or received, or the person to whom such wages
were paid;

Making or causing to be made any false statement or representation as to
whether net earnings from self-employment were received, the amount of
such earnings, the period during which such earnings were received, or the
person who received them;

Concealing or failing to report any event affecting the initial or
continued right to payment received or to be received by a person
individually or on behalf of another;

Converting all or any part of a payment received on behalf of a
beneficiary to a use other than for the use and benefit of that
beneficiary;

Falsely representing oneself to be an employee of the U.S. Government;

Accessing SSA computer records without authorization;

Disclosing unauthorized information from SSA's systems of records; and

Receiving or soliciting a bribe, illegal gratuity, or contribution to or
supplementation of salary for U.S. Government service.